Being that it’s tuesday, we felt there was no better time to mention some new releases… Some you know, some you may not:

TI – Paper Trail:

The super-group track Swagger Like Us (featuring Jay-Z, Kanye, and Lil’ Wayne) was reason enough for me to check out TI’s sixth LP: Paper Trail. The song left something to desired from the rest, but proved that TI has, if nothing else, stayed consistant over the years, holding off on experimentation, and sticking to what he does best: raw lyrics with a tight flow.

• MP3: T.I. – I’m Illy

Lukas Haas – Lukas Haas EP:

Emmy nominated actor turned musician Lukas Haas (Brick, Entourage) dropped his self-titled digital EP today. The EP doesn’t offer anything mold-breaking, but the songs are solid, straight forward, and will remind you of artists like Sufjan Stevens and Sondre Lerche. Check out a video of him playing his song Kemp for Indie 103

Ben Folds – Way to Normal

Ben Folds, one of the best singer-songwriters of the younger generation is finally releasing a new album titled Way to Normal. The initial reviews are positive for the album and if we know Ben (and we feel like we do) it would be hard for him to ever disappoint.

• MP3: Ben Folds – The Frown Song

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, a pop-duo comprised of instrumentalist Lars Iversen and vocalist Mette Lindberg, have been together for only year, yet have seen success that many groups never see in a lifetime.  Sharing little more than a demo outside the boundaries of their hometown Copenhagen, tracks have been popping up on radio all over the world from London, to Los Angeles’ indie 103.1, as well as seeing Apple iPod fame with their song Around the Bend being featured on a recent iPod Touch commercial.  The Asteroids Galaxy Tour hope to ride that fame stateside with the release of a digital EP (October 21), and following up with a full length album in early 2009.  A tour is also in the works, so keep an eye out for upcoming live dates where the duo will grow into a six-piece live band.

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• MP3:  The Asteroids Galaxy Tour – “The Sun Ain’t Shining No More”

Devlin and Darko, Spank Rock’s DJs and members of the production super group Fully Fitted brought their talents to Denver last month for the Democratic National Convention. They chronicled the experience on film. This is what they saw:

MP3: Paul Simon – 50 Ways (Chipset and Devlin Remix Ft. Amanda Blank)

Dance Floor Dale, a video featuring the track Parisian Goldfish off of Flying Lotus’ LP Los Angeles, is apparently causing some waves on the internet.  Directed by Eric Wareheim (Tim & Eric) in association with Warp Records and Warp Films, the video features some excellent, though allegedly explicit, Animation by Devin Flynn.  This video is a MUST SEE…

**Disclaimer:  This video contains flashing lights and content that is not intended for anyone under the age of 18.  Please click the picture link below to be directed to the host site**

UK based DJ/Producer, Leg-No, was kind enough to send over his most recent mixtape: Hipster Boogie. Featuring tracks from Spoek, Sinden, Rye Rye, and of course, (what mixtape isn’t complete with…) Lil’ Wayne, this mixtape is certainly worth checking out. Read on for track-list…

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• Downlaod Link: DJ Leg-No – “Hipster Boogie (mixtape)”

lanjut →

I was 13 when my first favorite band broke up. The first band where I bought pins, read magazines, waited for release day. In the ensuing quarter century, I’ve loved a lot of bands that came and went, but was never as distressing as that first breakup. I assume for the generation before me, this is how they felt when the Beatles disbanded. For me, it was when The Jam, the U.K’s startlingly original mod revivalists, imploded in 1982. Sure, Paul Weller went on to do the Style Council and a solo career, both of which are great. However, nothing post-Jam ever captured that headlong snap and fire that characterized the work of Weller and his compatriots, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler.

When I heard that Foxton and Buckler had reunited in 2007 to form From the Jam, playing Jam songs without Weller on vocals, I was skeptical…How could The Jam minus Weller ever compare?

I was completely wrong. From the Jam, 25 years after the breakup, is as lean, whip-smart, and vital-sounding as the Jam back in the day. Much of the credit is due Foxton and Buckler, who might be the tightest rhythm section in rock. However, David Moore and Russell Hastings can’t be overlooked. Moore anchors the band with guitar and keyboards, but the real surprise here is Hastings, who manages to emulate Weller’s distinctive vocals without ever veering into the dreaded tribute-band sound.

From the Jam is finishing up a live DVD documenting the band’s show in London’s Kentish Town Forum from 2007. They’re also on tour in the states right now, and any self-respecting mod fan should be sure to catch one of the remaining dates:

10/01: Toronto, ON @ Opera House
10/02: Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
10/03: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
10/04: Chicago, IL @ Abbey Pub
10/06: Denver, CO @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
10/08: San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
10/09: Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
10/10: Pomona, CA @ Glass House
10/11: San Diego, CA @ Brick by Brick

See the band perform “Down in the Tube Station at Midnight”:

With a weekend dying down that saw the Vikings and Gophers get spanked along with the Twins blowing two games, we’re ready for a FULL week of amazing shows in the Twin Cities. Some power houses are hitting the stage so lets forget about the weekend and enjoy together!

Monday September 29

• Mates of State – Fine Line Music Cafe – $16 – 8:00 p.m.
• MP3: Mates of States – The Re-Arranger

Tuesday September 30

• Beck and MGMT – Roy Wilkins Auditorium – $37.50 – 7:30 p.m.
• MP3: Beck – Youthless
  
• MGMT – Kids (Soulwax Remix)
  

Wednesday October 1

• Liam Finn – 7th Street Entry – $14 – 8:00 p.m.
• MP3: Liam Finn – Second Chance

Thursday October 2

• Brother Ali – Coffman Great Hall – 6:00 p.m.
• MP3: Brother Ali – Uncle Sam Goddam
• My Morning Jacket – Orpheum Theater – $36 – 8:00 p.m.
• MP3: My Morning Jacket – I’m Amazed
  
• Rachel Yamagata – Fine Line Music Cafe – $15 – 9:00 p.m.
• MP3: Rachel Yamagata – Elephants

Friday October 3

• Weezer/Tokyo Police Club – XCel Center – $40-$50 – 7:00 p.m.
• MP3: Weezer – Dreamin’
  
• Tokyo Police Club – Juno (Ra Ra Riot Remix)
• State Radio – Station 4 – $15 – 5:00 p.m.
• MP3: State Radio – Sudan
• Ani Difranco – State Theater – $39 – $36 – 8:00 p.m.
• MP3: Ani Difranco – Fire Door
• GET CRYPHY! (Featuring Plain Ole Bill, Jimmy2Times, and Mike the 2600 King…possibly surprise guests!) – First Avenue VIP Room – $3 – 11:00 p.m.
• Check out more about Get Cryphy HERE and HERE

Saturday October 4

• Talk Demonic w. First Communion After Party – 400 Bar – $10 – 9:00 p.m.
• MP3: Talk DeMonic – Tides in Their Grave
• First Communion After Party – 2CB
• Liz Phair – First Avenue – $25 – 7:00 p.m.
• MP3: Liz Phair – Why Can’t I?
• Ray Lamontagne – State Theater – $32.50 – 8 p.m.
• MP3: Ray Lamontagne – Trouble
• Alanis Morissette – Orpheum Theater – $67 – $47 – 8:00 p.m.
• MP3: Alanis Morissette – Head Over Feet

GET SOME SLEEP TONIGHT CAUSE THIS WEEK IS GOING TO BE ONE YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS! (AND I MUST BE SERIOUS CAUSE ITS ALL IN CAPS!)

High Places may be the most refreshing, intriguing music you will hear anytime soon. Mary Pearson’s voice mixed with the instrumentals of Rob Barber is a welcome escape from musical boundaries that creates one of the most captivating, sensual experiences in modern music. (Pearson graduated from this writer’s alma mater, Western Michigan University) The lazy man would describe High Places as experimental pop, but the group’s comforting sound is way too broad to be blankly labeled anything other than worldlysoulpopnewagehootanannyhoedown.

After a series of small releases in the form of singles, 7″, and contributions to compilations the band’s first full length album came out on Tuesday.

Buy the album HERE

• MP3: High Places – From Stardust to Sentience
• High Places – New Grace

The duo stopped by Minneapolis on Wednesday and took some time to talk with Above the Fold. Here’s what they had to say:

lanjut →

IAMSOUND Records artist, Little Boots, is set to release her debut US release come mid-November (EP – Arecibo), and the buzz is growing.  With the single Meddle gaining steam, remixes have been flying around the internet, and IAMSOUND was kind enough to throw the official Designer Drugs “‘80s Coke Jam” remix our way.

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• MP3:  Little Boots – “Meddle (Designer Drugs ’80s Coke Jam Remix)”
• Little Boots – “Meddle (Original)”
  

Matthew Embree’s brave singing voice is the strength of Love You Moon’s new album, Waxwane. It starts off with an in-your-face acoustic track, and the record evolves into a more delicate, complex animal. The most drastic change comes midway through, where Embree shows his versatility as a vocalist by following up his onslaught gritty blues singing with softer melodies. The latter half of the album is an amalgam of the separated elements of the album’s first half. Lyrically, the songs are filled with ardent color. Political, societal, and romantic subjects are the favored motifs, and an exuberant passion radiates from his relationship between melody and lyric. Whether mellow or aggressive, Waxwane grows into a fully-developed sound, even with the simplistic instrumentation of guitar and voice. This folk-soul sound is packed with raw emotion that is hard not to give your full attention. With the record having been released on September 9th, stay tuned for more live performances in the near future.

Waxwane is only available at INDIE Record Stores. Or buy it online HERE

• MP3: Love You Moon – Why Pop Stars Sell Silicon